Casting What-Ifs
James Caan, Al Pacino and Jon Voight for Ted; Kate Jackson, Faye Dunaway and Jane Fonda for Joanna; Gail Strickland as Margaret
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:24Read transcript
- Hoffman initially did not want the role, and James Caan reportedly declined over fears the film would flop.
- Al Pacino reportedly turned it down as not right for him; seeing him in the role would have been welcome.
- Jon Voight reportedly declined because he was already in The Champ, another divorced-parent story whose ending is called one of the saddest.
- Hoffman changed his mind after meeting Jaffe and Benton in a London hotel.
- By her own claim, Kate Jackson was offered Joanna but could not take it because of Charlie's Angels; the story is treated as only mostly true.
- Faye Dunaway was reportedly offered the role and did The Champ instead; Jane Fonda, earlier said to have been talked about for the role, is mentioned again; Ali MacGraw is named only with the judgment that she would have butchered it, without saying she was considered.
- Streep was originally meant for the JoBeth Williams role before being cast as Joanna.
- Gail Strickland was cast as Margaret but reportedly fired after Hoffman taunted her on set, and Jane Alexander replaced her.
- Earlier, a Kate Jackson version of Joanna is dismissed as unable to reach Streep's level, with casting what-ifs promised for later.